Power-driven sleigh



Nw. @1923. ummm C. H. COLBURN POWER DRIVEN SLEIGH Filed 001)." 25 192l v iffatented Nov. 6, 1923.

earenrri CHARLES E. COLBURN, OF HAMLIN, NEW YORK.

POWER-DRIVEN SLEIGH.

Application filed October 25, 1921. Serial No. 510,336.

To all @l1/'10m 'it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES I-I. COLBURN, citizen of the United States, residing at Hamlin, in the county of Monroe and State of `New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Power-Driven Sleighs, of which the following is a specification.

rIhis invention relates generally to sleighs having more particular reference to a power driven sleigh.

The invention has for an object to provide the sleigh with an air propeller capable of being swung bodily for steering the sleigh.

Another object is to connect the propeller with a steering runner whereby both will be swung in unison.

Another object relates to the provision of novel means for lowering running wheels below the sleigh runners when desired.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claim in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

. Fig. 1 of the drawings is a plan view of a sleigh having the invention embodied therein.

Fig. 2 is a side view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 2.

As here shown my improved sleigh comprises a body 10 of suitable shape and provided with a seat 11 located in a cockpit 12. This bodv is mounted on a front pair of runners 13 and a single, centrally located rear ruimer 14, the front runners being fixed while the rear runner is dirigible, being held in place by a king-bolt 15. This king-bolt 15 has an arm 16 fixed to the upper end thereof, this arm being connected by the links 17 and lever 18 to an arm 19 fixed to a swinging frame 2O which supports an air propeller 21 by which the sleigh is driven.

The propeller 21 is driven by a motor 23 mounted in the front portion of the body 10,

' the propeller being fixed on a horizontal stub shaft 24 on which is a bevel gear 25 meshing with a like gear 26 on the upper end of a vertical shaft 27. A second bevel gear 28 on the lower end of shaft 27 meshes with a bevel gear 29 on the crank shaft of the motor 23.

The swinging frame 20 has the shafts 25 and 27 journaled therein and is here shown as pivotally supported, on an axis co-incident with that of shaft 27, by a pair of brackets 32 fixed to the motor 23. As will be apparent, when frame 20 is swung to one side or the other, the direction in which shaft 24 extends will be varied. To accommodate the shaft 24 and the portion of frame 2O in which it is mounted, the front end of the body 20 is provided with a slot 33.

To swing the frame 20, a handwheel 35 is mounted on one end .of a steering shaft 36, the opposite end of .this shaft having fixed thereon a spur pinion 37 meshing with rack teeth 38 on the top face of a transverse bar 39 slidably supported in ears 40. The forward face of this bar is also provided with rack teeth 41 engaging a spur gear4 42 fixedV on frame 20.

As will be apparent, when the handwheel 35 is turned, the rack bar 39 will be moved, and will cause frame 2O to swing, changing the direction of pull of the propeller 21. Likewise, by reason of the connection between arm 19 fixed to frame 20, and arm 16 fixed to the king-bolt 15, the rear runner 14 will be turned in a direction opposite to that in which the propeller swings.

To enable the sleigh to be driven on bare ground when necessary, I provide two pairs of front wheels 45 which are mounted on the lower ends of pivoted arms 46 operated by toggle links 47 these toggle links being operated by a thrust bar 48 slidable in guides 49 in the sleigh body 10 and connect; ed by a link 50 to a hand lever 51 provided with usual locking means as indicated at 52. By employing the toggle link device just described I am enabled to obtain a high leverage in forcing the wheels 45 below the runner to raise the latter from the ground. In connection with the back runner 14 I fix thereto a pair of oppositely projecting pins 54 on which wheels 55 may be mounted when desired, the back of the sleigh being easily lifted by handV to secure these wheels in place.

It is believed that the manner of operation and use of my improved sleigh will be readily understood from the above description and that no further detailed description is needed. It is to be understood that various changes and modifications might be made in the construction herein disclosed without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claim.

Havlng thus descrlbed my lnventlon what a palr yof -llnks connectedat'fone enclfone to `10 lf claim as new and'clesre to proteotby Let-- ters Patent of the United States is as fol-V lows:

In a sleigh, a runner at one endithereo an air propeller at the opposite end, Vertical members around Whe'lsad runner and propeller are 4zrztlzqoted to swing, laterally projectingfm-m's 'xd fisaid versin members,

each of said arms, and a lever fulcrulnecl loetween lts enlsand haylng the send llnlis connected respeotvelly' t'A opposite ends thereof Wherebysad runner and propeller are` caused to swlng opposltely 1n un1son.-

In testlnonywhereof 'I have aixed lny] signature. e

` CHARLES H. COLBURN. 

